Unknown Pollutants in the Tap Water

0

Thinking that the water you drink every day is clean and free of any type of pollutant that could us is not only silly, but it could also make you less aware about the dangerous you are exposed to. Therefore, it’s important that you know which are the pollutants that make your tap water not so safe, even the ones that you never thought could be present in the water you use on a daily basis.

Urban pollution

The industry and the human dwellings have an important part in increasing the amounts of water pollutants as many toxic substances get into the groundwater every day. The ones that pose the highest risk are heavy metals like copper, selenium and zinc. Urban pollution also creates high levels of solvents in the groundwater as well as hydrocarbons resulted from petroleum oils. Although there haven’t been cases of severe health problems related to urban pollutants in the tap water, they do interfere with the water’s quality and odor.

Fluoride

The presence of fluoride in the tap water is not only dangerous, but it can be fatal in case of long term exposure. Fluoride is known to be a mineral that attacks the calcium in bones, which is why it’s best to be avoided especially in small children whose bones are developing. Fluoride also affects the teeth and can cause a severe condition called skeletal fluorosis that affects the bones’ density and causes fractures and skeletal deformity. High intakes of over 14 mg of fluoride per day increase the risk of bone fractures but smaller intakes can also have a devastating effect on the health of your bones.

Arsenic

When you think of arsenic, you think of poison and this is exactly what this substance is to your body. It is the only contaminant that has been proven to trigger human cancers due to the exposure through tap water. It can affect the skin, the lungs, the bladder and the liver and it can save various adverse effects like the peripheral vascular disease.

Lead

What makes this metal so dangerous is the fact that it can easily get into tap water through the pipes that transport it. Old water pipes include lead that can be absorbed in the water which is the main reason why the authorities have decided to ban the use of lead pipes. However, this contaminant still exists in the tap water.